Hopkinton officials present FY27 budget proposal and five‑year capital needs; hearings continue Jan. 22

Hopkinton Public Schools leaders presented the recommended fiscal 2027 operating and capital budgets at a joint School Committee and Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 8, outlining staffing requests tied to special education and enrollment growth and flagging districtwide HVAC work and roof replacements as major upcoming capital projects.

Superintendent (speaker 3) described the FY27 recommendation as “a slightly pared down version” of earlier presentations and said the plan reflects enrollment projections, listening‑tour input and town financial realities. Presenter staff reported a net operating budget proposal of $71,836,488 for FY27, with a total reported salary increase of $3,600,000 (about a 5.4% salary increase) and an expense increase of $297,000. The superintendent said new investments would focus on four priorities: special education; instructional costs tied to enrollment growth; instructional program enhancement; and core operations. She said the presentation included targeted personnel requests—an intensive teacher at Hopkins, paraprofessionals at Marathon and the middle school, a middle‑school reading interventionist, and a part‑time ESOL position—and that the new targeted investments listed on the slide total $535,762.

Finance staff (speaker 9) explained that in prior years certain line items (the special‑education reserve and some town‑hosted software costs) appeared on separate lines; for FY27 those costs are consolidated on a single operating line, which changes year‑to‑year percentage comparisons. He said the district employs roughly 602 educators including about 370 classroom teachers, serves students speaking 46 languages, and is tracking roughly 100 students below the June 2026 enrollment projection at this point in the year.

On the expense side, staff said transportation contract increases and technology expenses (including special‑education software) are notable drivers. The presentation noted a $216,000 decrease in the student services line that staff characterized as a reallocation of offsets—not a reduction in service—driven in part by a $415,000 increase in the circuit‑breaker offset and a reallocation of an IDEA grant into technology.

Committee members pressed on special‑education trends and staffing. One member asked whether new special‑education enrollments are primarily new arrivals or diagnoses that occur after students enter the district; the superintendent answered that it is a mix of both and that added paraprofessional support is targeted to students currently enrolled with IEPs. Another member asked about the district’s headcount exposure given a town‑level estimated budget shortfall for next year; presenters said they are targeting expansion only where current student needs require it.

The district also presented a five‑year capital plan that highlights HVAC work across the district in 2027–28, mid‑to‑longer‑term classroom and flooring refreshes at the middle school, and roof replacements timed to the 20‑year expirations of earlier solar power purchase agreements (panels installed in 2009). Staff said the PPA language anticipates removal of the older panels and that when those panels are removed the district will likely need to replace affected roofing where penetrations exist; newer weighted solar installations completed in 2023 were described as a different, non‑penetrating installation with a later 20‑year term.

The presentation also noted plans to install dishwashing systems at the high school (first) and middle school, with about half funding through the school lunch revolving account and the other half expected to be sought through an article. Staff said that installing dishwashers would eliminate disposable trays at the two schools.

The committee took no final vote on the operating or capital budgets at the Jan. 8 meeting; the superintendent noted the school committee is scheduled to vote on the budget on Jan. 22. At the Jan. 8 meeting the committee opened the public hearing on the FY27 budget and—finding no public commenters—closed it later in the agenda after questions and discussion.

Votes at a glance from the meeting: the committee approved acceptance of a fundraising check of $8,391.25 from Fundraising Products Inc. (Hopkins Meadow Farms fundraiser) for Hopkins School activities and approved a $1,600 grant from the Hopkinton Cultural Council to the Visual Arts Department for two custom display cases; both items were accepted by voice votes. The committee also approved consent items by consensus and adjourned.

The committee emphasized that FY27 staffing additions are targeted to current, documented student need and that capital priorities such as HVAC and roof work reflect longer‑term maintenance risk. The next substantive budget step is the Jan. 22 meeting, when the school committee is scheduled to vote on the FY27 operating and capital budgets.